Syndicate

Stickney, IL—The heavily favored California shipper, Santa Teresita certainly proved she could handle a dirt race track, but a tough trip and a game Swift Temper left Santa Teresita a head short of victory in the $200,000 Grade 3, Sixty Sails Handicap at Hawthorne Race Course.

Trained by Dale Romans and ridden to victory by Chris Emigh, Swift Temper was sent immediately to the front end in the 1 1/8-miles test for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. She reached the first quarter in a moderate 24.44, challenged only mildly by Mizzcan’tbewrong. By the time Swift Temper reached the half in 48.90, Santa Teresita had started to get bottled up on the rail, just behind the front-runner.

As Swift Temper approached the far turn, a fresh and strong challenge by Quick Notice appeared to the outside, and for a moment it looked like Quick Notice might ramble on by. But it was not to be.

Swift Temper, drifting to the middle of the track, held off Quick Notice. When Santa Teresita finally got going, her furious late run came up just short as Swift Temper held strongly to the wire. Quick Notice backed off late but clearly held the third spot, 2 ¼ lengths behind Santa Teresita.

“Mr. Romans said to just get him out of the gate and go with wherever you’re sitting,” said Emigh. “We hooked up with the outside horse and my horse wanted to run off a little bit but then she relaxed on the backside. I was hoping that she was fit enough but she was. She really dug in and didn’t give up.”

With the victory, Swift Temper earned $118,800 and won her second Grade 3 stakes. It was her first victory in 2009, but her second win in two lifetime starts at Hawthorne.

Owned by Mark Stanley, Swift Temper stopped the clock in 1:51.70 on a track listed as fast. The winner paid $9.20 to win as the second choice in the wagering.

Additional quote-Joe Talamo, jockey, Santa Teresita-“She always kind of gets a little tough in all her races. Without a doubt with an outside post she'd have been better. She was climbing pretty much the whole way, she's a totally different filly on the dirt. I thought she was going to run third but then finally she got going. She had a great trip otherwise; she was on the pace pretty good and then the rail opened up great. She just couldn't quicken fast enough to catch the winner."